Check your latest investment statements and you get an instant snapshot of how much your accounts are worth. But that can be a deceptive picture. For many accounts you will have to pay tax once you decide to spend that money. In terms of wealth building, what counts is not today’s statement balances, but what...

Success is often dependent on avoiding mistakes. Yet we often get so caught up in what we think we should do, we sometimes take our eye off of evading the bad moves that can undermine our long-term success. Avoiding these three investing mistakes will help you reach your goals. Mistake #1: Waiting to get started....

Right now your retirement planning is likely focused on how much you can save for that distant goal. Makes sense. But how much thought have you put into what you’re going to pay in taxes when you retire and start making withdrawals from your traditional 401(k), or individual retirement account (IRA)? Every dollar you pull...

Building up savings is one of those financial goals where intention often runs into the roadblock of reality. There’s no question you want to save more, but without a plan for how to pull it off you get to the end of each month without extra cash flow to earmark for savings. Here’s how to...

Whether you’re committed to FIRE, want to come up with a home down payment, or are eager to stuff your emergency savings account with more money, there are plenty of steps you can take to save more money. Start now. If you are thinking of saving for a long-term goal, the best time to get...

Out-of-pocket health care expenses for the average household runs nearly $4,000 a year. And that’s just today. The cost of medical care tends to increase at a rate that exceeds the regular inflation rate. And when you slide into retirement, the tendency is to need more care. Sure, Medicare covers plenty, but on average, about...